Yakima man sought for slitting ML man's throat

EPHRATA — Moses Lake police are searching for a Yakima man who reportedly slit a Moses Lake man's throat last week.

The MLPD is searching for Travis Franklin, 26, of Yakima, who allegedly slit a 29-year-old Moses Lake man’s neck. Franklin is currently charged in Grant County Superior Court with second-degree attempted murder, two counts of first-degree assault and first-degree robbery.

Franklin’s charge stems from an incident on Wednesday, when police received a report of an individual with a slit throat at an apartment complex in the 1000 block of West Third Avenue. The victim was immediately transported to the hospital and eventually told officers that a couple of days before the incident his “believed” girlfriend, identified as Judy Kirchoff, 25, of Spokane, brought a man over to his home. Kirchoff and the other person allegedly stole the victim’s phones, with Kirchoff allegedly later telling the victim, “the phones were taken so he couldn’t call for help,” according to police records.

On the night of the assault the victim reported five different individuals came over to his Third Avenue apartment. Franklin, Kirchoff and Christiann Artz, 38, of Moses Lake, reportedly stayed at the apartment when the two other individuals left and tied up the victim using duct tape and rope. The victim said the three suspects were mad at him for “helping a girl get high” and they were there to “make him pay.”

When the victim's hands and feet were bound Franklin allegedly injected him with an unknown drug in the neck that caused him to “nod off.” The victim described being in a drug induced state and observing Franklin, Kirchoff and Artz go through his belongings and pack some of his items into two of his backpacks.

The three suspects allegedly left the room and returned a short time late to collect a number of different pills that were found in the apartment.

“They ordered him to take all of the pills and gave him a Coke to wash them down. I found the partially consumed Coke and three empty pill bottles scattered about the residence. (The victim) stated they made him write out a suicide note and they explained they were going to make his death appear to be an overdose,” wrote a officer. “During my warrant execution I found a suicide like note. (The victim) stated he had to write it and read it back to them to ensure it said what they wanted.”

Franklin allegedly tried to forcibly inject the victim in the throat with an unspecified substance after the fake suicide letter was written. The victim said Franklin injected the substance “too deeply” and it went through an artery, causing him to lose consciousness. The victim reportedly woke up when Franklin attempted to force his face in a bed and cut his throat. He told police he was able to get out from under Franklin and pushed him down and hit him in the mouth.

The victim claims that he lost consciousness again and woke up to find Franklin, Artz and Kimberly Halstead, 22, of Moses Lake, in his room, with Halstead allegedly attempting to clean blood off the walls of the apartment. The victim was located a short time later by a neighbor.

A man who was staying at the apartment complex on the night of the assault told police on Thursday morning Halstead, Artz and Franklin came into residence. He said Franklin asked to use his hair clippers and went on to shave his head.

“(The witness) stated the male (Franklin) then took off a light-colored sweatshirt with dark splotches and left it in the room. The three suspects then departed,” wrote a officer.

Kirchoff was found by a MLPD officer after the incident and arrested on a Department of Corrections warrant she had out for her arrest. Both Artz and Kirchoff were charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree kidnapping. Halstead was eventually located and arrested for tampering with evidence, with more charges expected to be added.

Franklin has not been found and is “considered armed and should not be approached,” stated Capt. Dave Sands. He is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, 150 pounds, with a scar on the right side of his forehead and a tattoo on the right side of his neck. To report information about this case contact the Moses Lake Police Department at 509-764-3887.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.